How far is Thurmont, MD from Gaithersburg, MD?

The driving distance from Thurmont, MD to Gaithersburg, MD is about 40.3 miles (64.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 43m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 35 miles (56.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 27m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
40.34 mi
00h 43m
Flight
35.02 mi
56.36 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Thurmont.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
35.02 mi
Kilometers
56.36 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.34 mi
Kilometers
64.92 km
Drive Time
00h 43m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 43m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 4:04 AM EDT
Return by in Thurmont
Thu, Apr 23, 4:47 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Thurmont
2026-04-23T03:20
Arrive Gaithersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 4:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 43m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:44 AM to 7:44 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Thurmont
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ballenger Creek
MD

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

From Thurmont
19.9 mi
00h 21m
To Gaithersburg
20.4 mi
00h 21m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NW
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Thurmont and Gaithersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Thurmont and Gaithersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on East Main Street

    62 m · 12 sec · East Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Water Street

    677 ft · 24 sec · Water Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Frederick Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Frederick Road

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Tippin Drive

    540 ft · 21 sec · Tippin Drive

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward US 15 South

    1478 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Catoctin Mountain Highway

    12.5 mi · 17 min · Catoctin Mountain Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Frederick Freeway

    4 mi · 5 min · Frederick Freeway

  8. 8

    Continue on Eisenhower Memorial Highway

    19.9 mi · 25 min · Eisenhower Memorial Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward MD 124: Montgomery Village Avenue, Quince Orchard Road

    1.3 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on MD 124 North: Montgomery Village Avenue

    39 m · 5 sec

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Quince Orchard Road

    2237 ft · 45 sec · Quince Orchard Road

  12. 12

    Turn right onto North Frederick Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Frederick Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right

    26 m · 6 sec

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Thurmont and Gaithersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
34.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Eisenhower Memorial Highway
19.9 mi · 49%
Catoctin Mountain Highway
12.5 mi · 31%
Frederick Freeway
4.02 mi · 10%
North Frederick Avenue
0.88 mi · 2%
MD 124
0.81 mi · 2%
Frederick Road
0.67 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Eisenhower Memorial Highway

Continue on Eisenhower Memorial Highway

19.9 mi · 00h 25m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 43m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.3 mi
35 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ballenger Creek
00h 21m from Thurmont
Leave By
7:02 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Thurmont and Sunny near Gaithersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Thurmont to Gaithersburg?

The road trip is about 40.3 miles (64.9 km) and usually takes 00h 43m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ballenger Creek is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.9 miles from Thurmont and 20.4 miles from Gaithersburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 35 miles (56.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.80 one way or $11.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thurmont and Sunny near Gaithersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Ballenger Creek

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ballenger Creek, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ballenger Creek.

RAIL

Frederick, MD

5 mi away
100 South East Street
BUS

Frederick Airport, MD

7 mi away
1341 Hughes Ford Road
RAIL

Harpers Ferry

26 mi away
Potomac St. & Shenandoah St.
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

39 mi away
123 West Franklin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Thurmont and Gaithersburg. Straight-line distance: 35.02 mi (56.36 km).

Thurmont

#1 Thurmont

Town in Frederick County, Maryland, United States

Population7,070
Coordinates39.6237100, -77.4108200
Altitude158
CountryUnited States
Gaithersburg

#2 Gaithersburg

The second most populous city in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Population67,741
Coordinates39.1434400, -77.2013700
Altitude153
CountryUnited States
Start: East Main Street (-77.410905, 39.623518)
End: (-77.201269, 39.143361)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 65 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.42 gal
5.39 L · about $5.80
Round trip
$11.60
2.84 gal · 10.78 L
Estimated CO2
12.6 kg one way
Round trip: 25.2 kg / 56 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.80 $11.60
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.53 $13.06
Premium $4.95 $7.03 $14.07
Diesel $5.98 $8.49 $16.98

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Maryland · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Thurmont and Gaithersburg. The current time is 03:20:22.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.